The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 21, 2000
Filed:
Nov. 20, 1998
Applicant:
Inventor:
Donald G Bruns, San Diego, CA (US);
Assignee:
Thermotrex Corporation, San Diego, CA (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H02K / ; H02N / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
310 26 ; 310 12 ;
Abstract
An 'inch worm' type linear actuator in which high resolution is achieved by directly moving an actuator armature in small steps using thermal, piezoelectric, electromagnetic, or magnetostrictive armature translators. Sequential operation of paired electromagnet clamp assemblies and the armature translator provides a step-wise linear motion. When power is removed, the inventive mechanism prevents further motion of the armature. The preferred embodiment meets these requirements in a compact size having a relative long stroke that is suitable for cryogenic applications, such as moving a segment of a space telescope mirror.